With Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk, and potentially a few other heavyweights nearing retirement, there is one man Hearn believes will truly shake up the division.
Eddie Hearn has recently revealed that Anthony Joshua will likely retire in 2026 after three more fights.
Hearn named Tyson Fury, Jared Anderson, and Deontay Wilder as potential opponents.
With AJ nearing retirement, and Usyk likely getting close to it too, having accomplished everything there is to accomplish, the heavyweight division will need some new blood in years to come, and Hearn knows just the man.
Eddie Hearn believes Jai Opetaia will win a heavyweight world title
In an interview with Australian Boxing Central, Hearn spoke on Jai Opetaia‘s next fight, which he hopes will be a unification with Gilberto Ramirez:
“It does take two to tango, but I don’t see anything else for ‘Zurdo’.”
Hearn did not mince his words as he spoke on Opetaia’s ceiling, which he believes to be incredibly high:
“He’s going to win undisputed championships at cruiserweight, and also the world heavyweight championship. […] I think he’s going to cause people fits in the heavyweight division with his speed and his movement.”
Hearn also said he believes Opetaia could be undisputed as a cruiserweight in as little as two fights, with a heavyweight move coming next.
Gilberto Ramirez will fight on Jake Paul’s undercard next
Later this month, Jake Paul will take on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., a former world champion, though one who has had just one fight in the last four years, against a 1-0 opponent.
In the co-main event, Ramirez will make the first defense of his new world title, which he won by defeating Chris Billam-Smith, against Yuniel Dorticos.
Dorticos has lost only to Murat Gassiev and Mairis Briedis.